border around text

[robr32]

Hi all my first post so I hop I make myself clear enough. What I am trying to do is to add a border around my text and image. I dont mean a stroke because if I try this my text dissappears. Using text as an example I thought I could duplicate the text and then just increase the size but this doesnt seem to work. I have seen examples in magazines etc and the source files they give on the cd show the text over a larger shape of the text but I cant seem to get it right.

hope Ive made myself clear and one of you experts can shed some light.

thanks in advance

[TORCH511]

This is fairly easy to do:

1. Create your text (easy enough)
2. Go to the Appearances Pallet, click on TYPE to highlight it and then from the menu (the little arrow on the side at the top) select add new fill. A stroke and a fill corresponding to what is already applied to the text.
3. Select the fill, and then duplicate it using the menu or the icon at the bottom of the pallet
4. Select the new fill (the one on the bottom) select the color, and then from the menu bar in illustrator, select Effect>Path>Offset Path and select an appropriate distance.
5. Duplicate the fill, expand the fill in the appearances pallet and duble click on Offset Path, increase the offset distance.

VOILA

You can also do the same thing with strokes in the appearances pallet, and just move the fill before the strokes so it is not covered up.

I worked up a little example for you to see... it really is simple and quick to do:

http://www.torch511.com/files/outline_text.jpg

[alcbevtesting@alltel.net]

http://www.illustratortechniques.com/forum/showthread.php?t=747

You got the right answer to your question. For something more involved check out the Fused Logos thread that I posted. I learned a lot from others in setting up this so might be worth you looking at. It takes your bordered text (as discussed above) and melds it with a shape or shapes.

Gary.

[alcbevtesting@alltel.net]

I ran through Torch's suggestions. Just wanted to point out that using his approach you can add multiple outer strokes through the appearance palette/panel as well as applying some graphic styles. Try adding a graphic style and then adding additional strokes. Why many people are not told of the importance of the Appearance pallet is beyond me.

You have no flexibility without it for many effects yet noone ever really talks about it.

[TORCH511]

A graphic style is nothing more than what I did... it is just a way of storing presets of fills, effects...

You could group the text and the image, and then apply multimple strokes and fills to the grouping.